(Why your quality donations matter to our youth!)
The following page will describe our youth program but before you start reading – please remember that to continue what we are doing and to be able to help more and more teens each year, we need your help in any of the following ways:
Cash (goes without saying, doesn’t it?)
Quality Clothing so that differences in income levels can be
Eliminated
Collectibles (any type)/electronics/CD’s/Game
Boys/Dolls/figurines/anything at all that can be sold for a good enough price to pay a salary to a young person andthe fees it requires to sell on our on-line ecommerce store and to contribute to the expenses of the program as a tool to teach teens skills on computers
On-line Ecommerce Teen Program:
Upon entering the program, teens will be paired with a trainer and introduced to the basic hardware, software and protocol required to sell items on our on-line ecommerce store.
Trainers/mentors will teach teens how to:
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Write titles and descriptions
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Value and price donated items
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Design all aspects of the online advertisement
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Digitally photograph items -- use of camera -- item display
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Upload auctions to the store
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Ship – all aspects
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Answer email correspondence
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Analyze financial data – whether making a profit or loss
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Be accountable for accuracy of data
Participating teens will learn (“how to run a small business”):
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Marketing Skills
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Photography Skills
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Sales Skills
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Computer Skills
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Accounting Skills
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Finance Skills
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Communication Skills
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Teamwork Skills
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Spelling Skills
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Writing Skills
Mentors will provide:
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Life skills instruction (how to respect others, how not to break the law, and most importantly – how to develop great work ethic skills – “As Lea the founder says – ‘the harder you work, the more control and power you have over your life and the happier you will be and the more you will accomplish.’’
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One on one role modeling
Teens work towards:
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Building trust and developing interpersonal skills
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Developing independent living skills (cooking meals with few ingredients, repairing damaged clothing, helping others, etc.)
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Learning how to handle their finances properly
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Raising their self-esteem to learn that they deserve all the good things in as much as anyone
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Learning how to “love” and “respect” others (keeping in mind we are all human)
Teens are provided:
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Access to a clean, safe, homelike center, complete with a warm center, a full kitchen, bathroom, and shower
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Top brand-name clothing so they don’t stand out from others in their day-to-day Activities
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Food (when available)
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Hygiene products when available
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Basic home and health necessities
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Letter of reference for their first job
Though each teen will learn differently, the average time for full competency is one month. Following the initial training period, teens will have the opportunity to independently practice their new skills (all teens will be program literate upon graduation).
Once the teens have successfully completed the program, mentors can help them prepare a resume and identify job opportunities. Currently, Hope Dolls has trained over 100 youth from the local community, various high schools and metro area colleges.
A fully equipped and funded on-line ecommerce computer program can train between 15-20 youth per month.
Staffing Requirements: In addition to Lea Lakeside-Scott, Hope Dolls currently employs several On-line Ecommerce Computer Technology and Mentoring program graduates (rotation). These youth have mastered the skill set required for eBay sales and auctions, and are available to mentor new participants.
Hope Dolls requires one full time supervisor to oversee the trainers, volunteers, mentors, and teen participants.
Evaluation: Hope Dolls has successfully trained more than 100 youth for on-line ecommerce sales positions. Their proficiency is measured in completed daily quotas and successful online transactions. Mentor/trainers determine the youth level of mastery, then provide them with onsite experiential learning opportunities. Youth learn and practice with a team of dedicated staff, volunteers and peers.
In addition, the personal nature of the mentoring portion of the on-line ecommerce program provides opportunities for qualitative and quantitative evaluation processes. Indicators of success can be monitored by working with referring agencies, families, and the community. Some of those indicators are:
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Positive responses in treatment programs
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Positive attitude changes noted by the primary caregiver
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Positive responses to community service projects
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Positive changes in how they view themselves and their community
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An expressed interest to continue our mentoring program
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A noted ability to show empathy toward children and families in need
By working in conjunction with other agencies to evaluate these indicators, we can ensure success in our efforts while strengthening the efforts of our community partners.
Funding:
Proceeds from Hope Doll’s resale store and on-line ecommerce sales contribute to sustaining current youth programs. Several grantors have supported Hope Dolls since 2001 including (but not limited to): Lake Oswego Junior Women’s Club, Juan Young Trust, Hoover Family Foundation, Autzen, and the HillmanFoundation.
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